National: LeBron fined $25,000 for snub

LOS ANGELES--NBA commissioner David Stern says LeBron James has been fined $25,000 for skipping the postgame news conference after Cleveland lost to Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals.

Stern said Thursday night that he spoke with the Cavaliers star on Wednesday and that James admitted he was wrong to not congratulate Orlando's players and coaches after the loss.

James had surgery Tuesday to remove a benign growth near his jaw. He told Stern to convey his apology to the media before Game 1 of the NBA finals between the Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

NHL

DENVER--Joe Sacco envisions a fast and feisty team taking the ice, one that attacks and stays aggressive.

Sacco, who spent 13 years in the NHL, was introduced as the new coach of the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.

MLB

DETROIT--David Ortiz doesn't think that his season-long slump has anything to do with his eyes. At this point, though, he's willing to try just about anything.

Ortiz, who didn't play in Boston's 6-3 win over Detroit Thursday, is hitting .187 with just one home run this season.

La Russa suing Twitter

ST. LOUIS--St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is suing the social-networking site Twitter, claiming an unauthorized page that used his name to make light of drunken driving and two Cardinals pitchers who died damaged his reputation and caused emotional distress.

WNBA

NEW YORK--Roster sizes have been reduced and teams lost an assistant coach. Also, one of the marquee franchises has folded.

Just don't tell WNBA president Donna Orender that her league is doomed for extinction in a tough economy.

Orender points to recent increases in attendance, TV ratings, jersey and merchandise sales, and Web traffic as a sign the league, which begins its 13th season this weekend, is healthy.

"I have a great degree of confidence where the WNBA is," Orender said. "This is a league that is growing."

NBA commissioner David Stern believes the struggling economy can actually benefit the WNBA because of its affordability.